Starting system for engines



A. KAZENMAIER AND E. BAUER.

STARTING SYSTEM FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. IQIGI 1 3 1 2, 99 1 Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

w (L'WIIOW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST mammmn AND EUGEN BAUER, or STUTTG-AB'I, emm, assrenons, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, To AMERICAN BOSCH unonn'ro conronn'rron, or new YORK, a.Y., A oonrommon or NEW YORK.

s'rm'rme SYSTEM r012. aromas;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 12, 1916. Serial 1T0. 78,058.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUGUST KAzaN- MAIER and EUGEN BAUER, both subjectsof the Emperor of Germany, residing at and whose postofiice addressesare, respectively, Pfeiiferstrasse 4 and I-Iirschstrasse 37, nStuttgart, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStarting Systems for Engines;-and we do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

In motor starting systems for engmes, wherein speed reducing gearing ofcomparative] large ratio is generally used, there is considerable backlash or play between the motor and the engine, so that upon connectingthe source of power supply to the starting motor, the absence of load inthe initial eriocl in which the play is taken up results in the factthat the motor starts with a rush, especially since. a series electricmotor or other motor having the same characteristic high starting torqueis used. The speed developed in this initial period-is such that whenthe play is taken up, the momentum of the parts then in rotation,together with the starting torque of the motor, is suddenly applied tothe engine, with the result that severe strains may be developed in theapparatus and a noisy and unsatisfactory operation necessa'rily ensues.This is particularly true if the gearing between the motor and engineincludes an over-running clutch to automatically disengage them at theproper time. 1 4

Our invention overcomes the objections due to the rush of the motor inthe initial starting period and the sudden application of an excessivestarting torque to the engine when the play has been taken up, and we dothis by supplying in the initial starting period an amount of powersufficient to turn the motor at "slow speed and develop the smalltorque'required for overcoming the resistance encountered in takingupthe play in the gearing, but not sufficient to start the engine fromrest, and then increasing the supply of power-to the full valuenecessary to start the engine from rest. .The rotating members of theover-runnin clutch are connected in this initial perio or reviousthereto, so that the play in the clutc also is entirely taken upbefore'the motorstarts to develop the Increased power. In case thestarting system is applied to an internal Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

combustion engine wherein a supplementary ignition system is providedfor furnishing lgnitlon-voltages during the starting period of theengine, the arrangement is, in its preferred form, such that theignition system is started into operation at the time the supply ofpower is increased. We use a controller for compelling the sequence ofopera tions pointed out above, and in the preferred arrangement, thecontroller is operated in a single stroke from its inoperative position.For instance, in the case of an electric" starting system, a normallyopen switch has a succession of positions. In the first position, therotating members of the clutch are 'connected by anelectro-magnetically-operated brake supplied with current from abattery. In the same position or the next one, as desued, the motor issupplied from the battery with current limited by a resistance to anamount sufficient for developing the small torque required to turnthemotor slowly to take up the play in the gearing, but insufificient tostart the engine from rest. In the final position of the switch, fullpower for the motor is supplied from the battery and the supplementaryignition system is started into operation with current from the battery.n all these positions, the flow of current the brake ismaintained sothat the rotating members are connected during the entire startingperiod.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred embodiment of ourinvention in application, as an example, to an electric starting systemfor an internal combustion engine, wherein an over-running clutch isincluded in the motor gearing. In this system, the storage battery a hasone terminal grounded and the other terminal connected to the centralconducting segment 5 of a foot switch suitable for use on an automobileor motor boat. The switch shaft 0 carries two conducting bridge members(1,, d, insugaged by the bridge member al whereas the segmental: and Zare arranged in line on the mem opposite side of segment b so as to beengaged by the bridge member d The segment h is connected to theinsulated terminal of the grounded winding 0 of the electromagnet 1),Whereas the segment Z is connected through the resistance m to thesegment is and also to the insulated terminal of the grounded seriesmotor n. The segment i is connected to the supplementary ignition systemembodying an electromagnetic interrupter 1' of high periodicity suitablefor generating sparking voltages in the armature winding 8 of themagneto at each period of interruption of the mechanical interru ter 00.

he starting motor a drives the gear 14 which is meshed with therotatable member 11 of the over-running clutch, the rotatable member 13being permanently connected to the crank shaft 16 of the engine andbeing disengageably connected with the rotatable member 11 through theconnecting element 12 carried by the rotatable intermediate member 10.This over-running clutch is similar in construction and operation to theone illustrated in Fi 3 and 4 of Patent No. 1,259,876, issued arch 19,1918. In the construction shown herein, the brake 15 is applied to themember 10 when the winding 0 of the electromagnet p is energized, andwhen so applied, the connecting element 12 is moved into position topositively connect the two rotatable members 11 and 13.

The-operation is as follows: In the position illustrated, the switch isopen, the ro tatable elements of the over-running clutch are disengaged,and a considerable amount of play or back lash exists in the gearingbetween the motor and the engine. In order to start the engine fromrest, the operator depresses the switch shaft 0. When the bridge membersd d occupy the position shown in broken lines at I, current. flows fromthe battery a through the segment I and bridge member al to the segmenth of the winding 0, whereupon the electroma et enga es the brake 15 withthe interme iate r 10 of the clutch and thereb causes the rotatinrunning 0 utch to become positively connected and turn together as soonas the pla in the gearing is ta en up. When the switcii reaches thesecond position shown in broken lines at II, the bridge member d is inengagement with the segment is, and in addition to the current flowingto the winding 0 of the electroma et, current also flows from thebattery a t rough the resistance m to the motor n. The resistance m isso calibrated that the current flowing through it at that time startsthe motor into slow rotation and develops sufficient torque to take upthe play in the gearing between the motor n and the crank shaft 16 ofthe engine, butnot sufiicient torque to start the engine members 11 and13 of t e over-'- over-running clutch between t from rest. For instance,if the switch is held in position II the motor will come to rest afterthe play has been taken up. However, the operator continues the strokeof the switch shaft 0 and finally depresses the bridge members (A, d tothe position shown in broken lines at III. In this position the bridgemember (1 connects the segment I) 'i 'motor then starts the engine fromrest and brings it to a speed at which it develops its own power, thesupplementary ignition system generating satisfactory ignition voltagesto ignite the combustible mixtures drawn into the engine cylinders.

As soon as the speed of rotation of the engine shaft 16 exceeds thespeed of rotation of the member 11, the connecting element 12disconnects the clutch, whereu on the switch shaft 0 is released to itsralsed position, and all. the circuits from the battery are interru ted.The notches '0 'v, and '0 are engaged y the spring-pressed finger u tolightly hold the switch shaft at the three successive positions and togive an indication to the operator.

Inasmuch as the play in the gearing is entirely taken up in a part of arotation of.the motor, the member 11 of the clutch moves but slightlywhen the switch reaches position II. Thus, if desired, the segments '6"and It could be shorter, and the stroke of the shaft 0 decreased, or thesegment I: could be lengthened at the top, whereupon the positions I andII would be combined without the possibility of disengagement betweenthe members of the clutch at the beginningof the initial startingperiod.

Having thus described .our invention, what we claim is: n p

1. In en ine starting apparatus, the combination with a' starting motor,a source of power supply therefor, gearing including an over-runningclutch between the engine and motor, and a brake engageable with theclutch to connect the rotatin members thereof of a controller whichrstcauses the brake to e age the clutch and the starting motor to ta *eup the play in the gearing, and then causes the flowof full ower fromthe source of power supply to t e motor to start the engine from rest.

2. In engine starting apparatus, the combination with a starting motor,a source of power supply therefor, gearin including an Ire engine andmotor, and a brake engageable with the clutch to connect the rotatingmembers thereof, of a controller which first causes the "brake to engagethe clutch and the starting motor to take up the play in the gearing,and then causes the flow of full power from the source of power supplyto the motor While maintaining the brake in engagement with the clutch3. In engine starting apparatus, the combinetion with a starting motor,a source of power supply therefor. gearing including on over-runningclutch between the engine and motor, 3- supplementury ignition systemfor the engine, ant it broke enga es-hie with the clutch to connect therotating members thereof, of a controller which first causes the braketo engo-gethe clutch and the starting motor to take up the play in thegearing, an then causes the flow of full full power from the source ofpower supply to the motor and simultaneously starts the supplementaryignition system into operation.

t. In engine starting apparatus, the coin hination with on electricstarting motor, a source of power supply therefor, geering including anovenrunning clutch between the engine and motor electric connectionsincluding a resistance anal on electromagnetically operated brakeengegeahle with the clutch to connect the rotating members thereof, ofa, multi position switch. which first connects the winding of theelectromagnet to the source of power supply to move the brake intoengagement with the clutch and then connects the source of power sup plyto the motor through the resistance to take up the play in the gearing,and finally connects the source of power supply directly to the motor tostart the engine from rest 5. In engine starting apparatus, the C0311-hinetion with an electric starting motor, a, source of power supplytherefor, gearing ineluding en over-running clutch between the engineand motor, electric connections in cluding a resistance, a,supplementary ignition system for the engine, and an electromagneticallyoperated broke engsgee-hle with the clutch to connect the rotatingnieinhers thereof of a multi-position switch which first connects theWinding 015 the elec troinegnet to the source of power supply to movebroke into engagement with the clutch and then connects the source ofpower supply to the motor through the resistance to take up the ploy inthe gearing, and fillally connects the source of power supply directlyto the motor to start the engine from rest While maintaining theconnection to the Winding of the electromegnet and simultaneouslyconnects the source of power supply to the supplementary ignitionsystem. to start it into operation.

in testimony whereof we alfix our sig-= natures.

AUGUElT KAZENMAIER EUGEN BAUER ii ii

